Butterfly fish and reefs

[icemountain]

I have been wanting to add either a copperband, longnose, or pyramid butterfly to my tank but am hesitating a little. I have a zoa dominant tank with a few sps. I have seen these butterflies in full blown reefs. Are their certain types of corals that these guys might like to nip on or are more on the safe side?

 

[46gReef]

I would consider them a "reef safe" fish in general as far as the longnose & copperband go. I have never kept & don't know much about the pyramid. Both the longnose & copperband actually will pick inbetween the heads of some corals looking for food, some may mistake this for "eating" the coral when in reality they are just looking for pods and what not. With that said it may itrritate corals, I would guess they would be with zoas but you can never say with 100% certainty. Both of them are very finicky eaters and hard to keep long term, IME it's getting them to eat & keeping them interested that is the biggest challenge, Hopefully members who keep either species alive & well for extended periods of time can weigh in.....

 

[Eggs]

I had a Copperband that picked at SPS, Zoas were ok.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I had a Copperband, never had him pick at my Zoas.

 

[icemountain]

What about for feeding? I feed my fish once a day with a mixture of different frozen foods and pellets. Would a copperband/longnose butterfly be okay with once a day feeding or do they need multiple feedings a day?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Mine only got once a day feedings. I fed em Mysis Shrimp.